Chiang Rai Advances “Holistic Care for the Elderly” Project for Better Quality of Life

  Glasgow: England is moving closer to becoming one of the first countries in the world to achieve the goal of eliminating hepatitis C, a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. According to the National Health Service (NHS), significant progress has been made in diagnosing and treating people living with the disease. So far, around 80 percent of known hepatitis C patients have successfully completed treatment, while deaths associated with the disease have fallen by 36 percent over the past decade. Health authorities say the progress is the result of increased testing, early diagnosis and wider access to treatment. Several initiatives have been introduced to identify people who may have hepatitis C without knowing that they are infected. Among these measures are blood testing in emergency departments, screening when patients register with general practitioners (GPs), and the provision of free home testing kits. These programmes have helped health authorities identify thousands of people who were previously unaware that they had the infection. Following diagnosis, patients have been referred for treatment, allowing many to receive medical care before the disease could cause more serious liver damage. Official figures show that more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C in England since 2015. Health experts say this represents a major step forward in the country’s efforts to eliminate the disease as a public health threat. Hepatitis C is caused by a virus that can lead to long-term liver damage if it remains untreated. In some cases, chronic infection can result in serious complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, advances in medical treatment have significantly improved the chances of recovery. Experts say modern antiviral medicines have transformed the treatment of hepatitis C. Patients generally take direct-acting antiviral medicines for between eight and 12 weeks. These treatments are highly effective, with approximately 95 percent of patients able to achieve a complete cure. The availability of effective treatment has also strengthened England’s ability to meet international targets for hepatitis C elimination. Health officials believe that combining widespread testing with rapid access to treatment can help identify remaining cases and prevent further transmission. The NHS has emphasized that finding people who have the virus but do not know they are infected remains an important part of the elimination strategy. Because hepatitis C can sometimes remain without noticeable symptoms for years, individuals may not seek medical attention until significant liver damage has already occurred. Routine and targeted screening therefore plays an important role in identifying cases at an earlier stage. The decline in deaths over the past 10 years is another indication of the progress made against the disease. A 36 percent reduction in hepatitis C-related deaths suggests that improved diagnosis and access to effective treatment are helping reduce the most serious consequences of the infection. With more than 100,000 people diagnosed and treated since 2015, and around 80 percent of known patients successfully treated, England is now considerably closer to its hepatitis C elimination target. Health experts say continued testing, early diagnosis, treatment and public awareness will be essential to maintain this progress. With modern medicines capable of curing around 95 percent of patients within a relatively short treatment period, England is increasingly well placed to become one of the countries leading global efforts to eliminate hepatitis C as a major public health concern.

  South Indian actress Shakeela has revealed that her excessive use of mobile phones left her with a serious neck problem that eventually required surgery costing around Rs300,000 Indian rupees. The 53-year-old actress shared her experience in a video posted on her YouTube channel and urged people, especially parents, to limit unnecessary mobile phone use. Shakeela, who has worked in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films, said her habit of playing games and watching videos on her phone for several hours caused significant damage to her neck. She explained that she would often lie on her side in bed for long periods while using her phone. “I used to play games on my phone continuously for four hours while lying on my side in bed,” Shakeela said. She added that she would only get up occasionally to have tea or coffee before returning to her phone. After playing games, she would spend hours watching reels on YouTube and Instagram. According to the actress, maintaining an incorrect posture while using her phone, combined with prolonged screen time, affected important blood vessels in her neck and eventually led to serious health complications. She underwent surgery in Chennai and said that a titanium screw was also used during the procedure. After returning home, doctors advised Shakeela to wear a neck collar until she recovered. She said that following the surgery, she has needed assistance even with basic activities such as getting out of bed and eating. Shakeela stressed that mobile phones are useful devices when used responsibly, but excessive use can have serious consequences. She advised people not to spend unnecessary hours watching videos or playing games, even if the content is entertaining. She also issued a warning to parents, urging them to avoid giving mobile phones to children unnecessarily. According to her, children should use phones only for essential activities and educational or useful content rather than spending long periods watching short videos and playing games. The actress said that people could end up paying a heavy financial and physical price for excessive phone use, adding that her own experience had cost her around Rs300,000 and caused considerable pain and difficulty. Shakeela Begum was born in Chennai. Her mother, Chand Bee, was from Andhra Pradesh, while her father, Chand Basha, was from Tamil Nadu. She began her acting career with a Tamil film in 1995. However, she gained widespread recognition after appearing in the Malayalam film Kinnarathumbikal, released in 2000. Over the years, Shakeela became a well-known name in South Indian cinema, particularly for her work in Malayalam films. Her latest health experience has now prompted her to use her public platform to raise awareness about responsible mobile phone use and the potential health risks associated with prolonged screen time and poor posture.